TEACHING THE HISTORY OF THE SHOAH: Not that good an idea.

 A worrying aspect of the demonstrations against anti-Semitism and/or in favor of Israel in France, the United Kingdom and Germany is the low participation of young people. Some observers suggest an average age of around 50 among the participants.

When I arrived in France at the end of the 1980s, there was a lot of talk about the systematic establishment of this teaching.

I was against the establishment of this teaching because I considered it counterproductive, for I feared that although it might generate more sympathy towards Jews, it would come at the cost of presenting Jews as vulnerable and easy to persecute.

I believe that I was unfortunately right, and that the events which have taken place since the tragedy which began on October 7 confirm it.

Never since 1945 have hostiles attacked Jews and their property with such brazenness, as is the case now where all Jewish institutions, nurseries, kindergartens, schools at all levels, synagogues, museums , monuments and cemeteries can only operate under close police protection. Not to mention the people who have to do without this protection and are often exposed to all forms of anti-Jewish harassment.

In the November 25 demonstration to protest violence against women, intersectional feminists, several of whom brandished Palestinian flags, were ready to physically attack the 200 Jewish women who wanted to join the procession to protest against the atrocious rapes committed by the Hamas during the October 7 massacre. The police had to separate Jewish women from the procession to protect them.

What strikes me is the propensity to attack these cantankerous feminists had, as if they were sure that with little risk and effort, they could reap to pieces Jewish women.

Where does this assurance come from? Where did they learn that Jews could be crushed like cockroaches? What put this notion in their heads?

My answer is the education system, more precisely, the teaching of the history of the Shoah.

Because, even if the saying is commonplace, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. From the good intentions of promoting understanding, tolerance and empathy which inspire this teaching, above all remains the infernal notion that Jews are vulnerable and easy to attack.

In any case, the vast majority of anti-Jewish demonstrators, who are millennials and generation Z, have received this teaching and it has not given them a critical attitude towards anti-Semitism.

If the intention of teaching the history of the Shoah is to reduce anti-Semitism and if after 30 years of the application of this teaching we are entitled to draw a balance, we must note that anti-Semitism has only increased and if there are any effects, they are negative because they encourage anti-Semitic attacks to the extent that they convey the idea that Jews are easy prey.